Angle measuring device for surveying instruments



1941- D. H. WEINSTEIN ETAL 2,255,093

ANGLE MEASURING DEVICE FOR SURVEYING INSTRUMENTS Original Filed Jan. 8, 1938 Patented Dec. 2, 1941 ANGLE MEASURING DEVICE FOR SURVEY- ING INSTRUMENTS David H. Weinstein and Loydc H. Metzner, Long Beach, Calii.'., assignors to Cooperative Development 00., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Original application January 8, 1938, Serial No.

Divided and this application June 7,

1939, Serial No. 217,940

3 Claims.

ture of such inclination.

This application is a division of our copending application Serial No. 184,012, filed January 8, 1938, and entitled Method and means of creating and receiving sound signals.

In the drilling of oil wells and the like it has been found that whenthe well bore penetrates the earth formation in its downward course there is likelihood that the drilling tool will be deflected and will cause an objectional deviation and declination of the well bore. In order to ascertain the deviation of a drill hole from the vertical it is the principal object of the present invention to provide a deviation measuring instrument including a sound creating and receiving means for indicating the degree of declination of a well bore by creating a signal remote from the earth's surface by which sound waves having predetermined quality, value, or frequency may be set up to definitely indicate the degree of declination of the well bore.

The present invention contemplates the provision of a unit adapted to be positioned at a point remote from a receiving station, for example, as at a depth in a well and which unit contains a plurality of deviation measuring elements which under varying conditions of deviation will create definite sound signals to be conveyed by sound waves to the surface of the well and will be picked up by suitable receiving and amplifying means to make it possible to indicate the degree of deviation of the well bore from the vertical.

The invention is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a view in diagram indicating the application of the present invention to the drill stem of an oil well.

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in central longitudinal'section showing the sound creating device as used in the structure of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view in transverse section through the device disclosed in Figure 2 as viewed on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in transverse section through the structure of Figure 2 as viewed on the line Referring more particularly to the drawing, 10 indicates a well bore which may be of any desired depth and which is shown here as receiving a drill string H at the lower end of which string a drill bit I2 is secured. It is understood that the arrangement shown in Figure 1 merely discloses the invention by way of example and that various other applications of the invention may be made. In the particular use disclosed in Figure 1 a sound signal creating device I3 is mounted within the drill string above the drill collar and is here shown as resting upon spring I4. In the form of the invention shown in this application the sound signal creating device is provided to indicate degrees of deviation of the drill string and thus the drilled hole from the vertical. These signals are propagated through the drill string or casing or fluid within the well and possibly the ground to be picked up by a microphone l5 which is in association with the drill string or the casing at the surface of the well and then amplified. within a sound ampliprovided, formed with radially extending ribs 20 which will space it centrally of the drill string I I or other casing or tubing in which it may be positioned. The case I9 may be formed at its opposite ends with removable caps 55 and 55 by which access to the interior of the case may be attained. Positioned within the case I9 is a timing device 2| which may be operated by a suitable time clock or other means and which drives a shaft 22. This shaft 22 carries a commutator drum 23. This drum is formed with a plurality of circumierentially spaced segments. As here shown these segments extend longitudinally of the drum and are of different lengths. Four segments are here shown. A segment 24 is the shortest in length, it contacts with the brush 25. A segment 26 is of a greater length,

it contacts with the brush 21. A segment 28 is "of increased length and it contact with the ibrush 29. The longest segment here shown is of greater length than the previously mentioned segments, as designated at 30, and it contacts with a brush 3|. It will thus be seen that as the commutator drum 23 rotates contact will be made initially between brush 25 and the shorter 34 connects with the source of electrical energy 35. The other pole of said source connecting with a breaker point 35'. This is drawnout of contact with the reed by a buzzer coil 36 connected with the conductor 31 to make and break the circuit. The conductor 31 is a common conductor to wires 38, 39, 40, and 4|. These wires connect respectively with contact rings 4|, 42, 43, and 43'. The rings decrease in diameter in the order mentioned. Each of these plates is mounted on a separate concave plate 44 and upon which metallic balls 45, 46, 41, and 48 rest and are free to roll to create a contact between the rings and the concaved discs. The concaved discs in turn are in connection respectively with conductors 49, 50, 5!, and 52. It isto be understood that while four commutator segments are shown on the drum 23 that any number of segments may be placed on the drum 23 and that any corresponding number of discs with rings and balls will be placed in the device whereby various angles of declination may be measured as hereinafter set forth.

In operation of the present invention the sound signaling unit [3 is disposed above the drill bit v1 within the drill string. Due to this arrangement ing shows a plurality of balls 45 to 48, inclusive,

which are free to rotate upon separate concave discs 44. As previously explained, any number of these discs may be provided in which event the rings carried by the discs will differ progressively in diameter, thus the ring of smallest diameter will contact with the ball associated therewith, first as the instrument deviates from the vertical and the next successive ring of increasing diameter will simultaneously contact with the balls associated therewith as the angle When the lower ball 48 of deflection increases. contacts with its ring an electrical circuit will be created through the conductors of the brush 3| as the timing device 21 rotates the shaft 22 and the drum 23. The commutator segment 32 will engage the brush 3| and create a circuit. This circuit will include the conductor 34, the source of electrical energy 35, and coil 36 which may be a part of a common buzzer connected to conductors 31 and 38, thus a single signal impulse will be given every time the commutator drum 23 makes one rotation. This'would indicate the fact that the lowermost contact ball 48 has rotated to a position of contact with the ring 43'. As the instrument declines further other circuits will be completed through the appropriate contact segments. These segments will progressively increase in number around the cir-' cumference of the drum as seen in Figure 2 of the drawing so that regardless of how many of the balls are in contact with their rings there will be a number of sound impulses created rep resented by the largest ring and ball with which it contacts. It will thus be seen that in this particular case a definite signal will be propagated by the instrument with direct reference to the degree of declination of the instrument within the hole.

It is to be understood that the present invention is particularly concerned with the creation of a definite sound signal having a known value or meaning and which is produced from a point remote from that of which the sound signal is heard. Such sound signals may be produced by vibration elements which will transmit sound waves through a suitable conductor or might b produced by an element creating a disturbance in the open air and which would be carried through the conduit. It is further to be understood that while a specific form of the device is here shown .and disclosed that other embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention such, for example, as indicating the orientation of any element with relation to the magnetic north and it will also be recognized that devices of the type herein dis"- closed can be 'used to be lowered into a well through a casing'or drill string to indicate points of break or twist-off since after moving the device to a position beyond the break the signals will be rendered relatively inaudible.

It will thus be seen that the structure here disclosed and the method of operating and utilizing the same to create sound signals of known significance and to receive or record said signals at a remote point will insure that a wide range of differences in the kind of information may be obtained by a relatively simple apparatus which is rugged in construction and thus will be easily maintained in working order and which will operate without the use of expensive apparatus and without interference from electrical conditions which might render electrical or magnetic devices inoperative and unreliable.

While we have shownthe preferred form or our apparatus and method of using the same by which sound signals may be created and detected it is to be understood that various changes might be made in the combination of elements and arrangement of the various parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. .In a unit for determining the inclination of a well bore from the vertical including a housing adapted to be positioned within said well bore with its axis alignedwith the axis of said bore, an angle responsive means comprising: a plurality of electrically conductive supporting members each having a curved and upwardly concave surface, said supporting members being spaced from each other along the axis of said housing; a spherical ball of electrically conductive material rested on each of said surfaces; and a circular contact ring for each of said supporting members each disposed in a position encircling one of said ball members with the plane of said ring normal to the axis of said housing, each of said rings being electrically insulated from the supporting member with which it is associated, and

2. In a unit for determining the inclination of a well bore from the vertical including a housing adapted to be positioned within said well bore with its axis aligned with the axis of said bore, an angle responsive means comprising: a

plurality of electrically conductive supporting members each having an upper spherical concave surface, said supporting membersv being spaced from each other along the axis 'of said housing; a spherical ball of electrically conduc-' tive material rested on each of said surfaces; and a circular contact ring for each of said supporting members each disposed in a position encircling one of said ball members with the plane of said ring normal vto the axis of said housing, each 01 said rings being electrically insulated from the supporting member with which it is associated, and the radius of curvature of each of said spherical surfaces and the diameters of each of said rings being so adjusted as to cause said balls to be moved into contact with each of said rings at different angular inclinations of the axis or said housing. 7

3. In a unit for determining the inclination of a well bore from the vertical including a housing adapted to be positioned within said well bore with its axis aligned with the axis of said bore, an angle responsive means comprising: a plurality of identical electrically conductive supporting members each having an upper spherical concave surface of predetermined radius, said supporting members being spaced from each other along the axis of said housing; a spherical ball of electrlcally conductive material rested on each of said surfaces; and a circular contact ring for each of said supporting members each disposed in a position encircling one of said ball members with the plane oi said ring normal to the axis of said housing, each of said rings being electrically insulated from the supporting member with which it is associated, and the diameters of each of said rings being so adjusted as to cause said balls to be moved into contact with each of said rings at different predetermined angular inclinations oi the axis oi said housing.

LOYDE H. IMETZNER. DAVID H. WEINSTEIN. 

